Hydrocarbon turbine-engine.



PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

J. ZANDER. HYDROOARBON TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 822,176. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

J. ZANDER- HYDROGARBON TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l5 ma IJKMWJZMM PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

J. ZANDER. HYDROGARBON TURBINE ENGINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY23, 1905. v

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HYDROC'ARBON TURBiNE-ENGlNEn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed May 23,1905. Serial No. 261,763.

To all whom it may concern.-

"Be it known that 1, JOHN ZANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrocarbon Turbine-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is intended to obviate the necessity for providing compressors for the hydrocarbon charge and to carry the exploded charge from the oint of ignition to the turbine-Wheel and a low the charge to act against the blades of the turbine-wheel evenly and uniformly, so that a high degree of efiioiency will be secured without the necessity for providing mechanism for the compression of the char e.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the structural arrangement of the parts and mountings therefor, so that the engine as a whole will be compact and symmetrical and the necessary castings easily made and assembled.

Another object of the invention is to so regulate the operation of the parts that the charges of hydrocarbon vapor will be admitted to the exploding-chamber at a suitable time to secure the highest degree of efficiency without the waste or dissipation of the hydrocarbon fuel. This object is accomplished I by the provision of a governor which is adapted to stop the operation of the valves whenever the rotation of the engine reaches a certain predetermined point, thereby cutting off the supply of fuel untilthe rotation,

of the engine has been reduced to normal.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the even and uniform discharge of the products of combustion from the engine,

thoroughly cleaning out the engine with each discharge preparatory to the admission ofa fresh charge of vapor.

,The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the engine; Fig. 2, a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. llooking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a sectional planview of the engine; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the fan in elevation; and Fig. 6, a sectional View taken on.

line 6 6 of Fig. 1, showing the turbine-wheel in elevation. i

The fan consists of a rounded fan-casing 1, having an outer wall 2 and an inner wall 3 of similar shape, and the walls are connected together by a rounded cross-wall 4. (Best shown in Fig. 5.) The cross-wall is provided with an upper shoulder 6 and a lower shoulder 7, forming offsets or abutments, and the transverse diameter of the fan-chamber will be least at the inner angles 8 ol the shoulders or abutments and greatest at the outer angles 9 of the shoulders or abutments, the wall 4 being uniformly rounded from the inner angle of one shoulder to the outer angle of the companion shoulder. The outer wall 2 is provided with an intake-port 10, which opens into an explosion-chamber 1 1, formed within a casing 12, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the outer wall of the fan-casing. The explosion-chamber communicates, by means of a valve-port 13, with an intakechamber 14, having an intake-port 15, and the valve-port 13 is controlled by means of a puppet-valve 16, which is actuated in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Within the fan-chamber is located a fan 17, having blades 18 outwardly projecting from a disk-shaped plate 19 toward the intakeport 10, leading to the fan-chamber. The fan is mounted upon a primary shaft 20, which is located intermediate of the inner angles 8 of the abutments 6 and 7, and the fan is of suitable size, so that the curved walls of the chamber closely approach the fan at the inner angles and recede away uniformly from the fan toward the outer angles of the shoulders or abutments, the fan being mounted eccentrically withresp'ect to the curved walls of the fan-chamber. The inner wall 3 of the fan-chamber has therein upper and lower discharge-ports 21 and 22, respectively, which communicate with cross-passages 23 and 24, respectively, leading from the fan-casing to the turbine-casing, which is located at the opposlte end of the engine. The turbine-casing consists ofan inner circular plate 25 and an outer circular plate 26, the former of which is provided with an upper intake-port 27 and a lower intake-port 28, communicating with the passages 23 and 24, respectively, and the inner and outer plates of the turbine-casing are connected by means of an outer crosswall 29 and an inner cross-wall 30, forming an annular distributing-chamber 31 and a circular turbine-chamber 32, which has leading take-nozzles 33.

The primary shaft 20 passes through the turbine-chamber 32 and'serves as a mounting for a turbine-wheel, which consists of a circular inner plate 34, having outwardly-pro- 38, which opens into a discharge-chamber 39,

provided with a discharge-outlet 40. The

discharge-chamber is provided with a valve' controlled port 41, leading to a chamber 42, located in an outwardly-projecting casing 43, andsaid chamber 42 is in communication on each side with curved exterior passages 44 in an outer casing 45, which is formed integrally with the casing 43 and is secured to the outer plate 26 of the turbine-chamber by means of bolts 46, which pass through a flange 47 for securing the parts together. The rounded .Outer passages 44 are in communication at their lower ends with side ports 48, leading to the annular distributing-chamber, so that the distributing-chamber will be at all times in communication with the chambers 42 and 44'. The port 41 between the dis charge-char'nber 39 and the outer chamber 42 is controlled by means of a puppet-valve 49 in alinement with the puppet-valve 16 at the opposite 'end of theen ine. i

. Intermediate of the fan and turbine chambers isa gear-housing 50, carried by a base 51, which likewise serves as a mountin for'the casings heretofore described, andv t e gear housing consists of a lower section 52 and an upper section 53;, each provided with flanges 54, which are secured together by bolts 55 or other suitable attaching means. The flanges near the inner end of the gear-housing on each side thereof are provided on each side with semicircular collars 56, which embrace bosses 57, which inwardly project from the fan and turbine casings, respectively, and form journal-boxes for the primary shaft 20,

thereby affording a close and compact'closure between the sections of the en inc and allowing the gear-housin to be fil ed with oil or other lubricant for't e gears to run in.

The primary shaft 20 has mounted thereon a pinion 58, which meshes with a gear-wheel 59, mounted upon a power-transmitting shaft 60, and said shaft has mo Jnted thereon a pinion 61, which meshes with a gear-wheel 62,

mounted on a motor-shaft 63, from which the power is finally transmitted in any suitable manner. The motor-shaft is mounted within journal-boxes 64 in the gear-housing and is provided near one end with a cam 65 and an adjoining grooved collar 66, the collar and cam being slidably mounted upon the shaft,

and into said collar extend the actuating ends 67 of bell-crank governor-arms 68, provided with weights 69 on their outer ends, and the bell-crank arms are pivoted to a fixed bracket 70, mounted on the motor-shaft so that after the motor-shaft has reached a predetermined speed of revolution the weights will fly out, moving the bell-crank arms and retracting the collar and. cam secured thereto. The cam when in normal position abuts against an upwardly-extending arm 71, carried by a collar 72, mounted upon a rock-shaft 73, suitably j ournaled to the base of the engine, and said rock-shaft has mounted thereon inwardly-projecting valve-actuating arms 74 and 75, respectively, adapted to bear against the puppet-valve stems for controlling the intake to and discharge from the engine.

In operation the char e of. hydrocarbon vapor and air is admitted from any suitable carbureter or similar mixing device into the explosion-chamber, being drawn in by the suction of the fan. After the requisite amount of Vapor has been admitted to the explosion-chamber it is ignited and the force of the explosion carried through therport 10 around to the upper and lower cross-passages 23 and 24, whence it enters the annular distributin -chamber 31. During. the explosion an immediately thereafter the puppet valves are closed, so that the entire force of' the exploded charge is exerted against the. blades of the turbine-wheel, entering at the periphery of the wheel through the nozzles 33 and passin out from the center of the wheel through the port'38, whence it is discharged from the chamber 39. After the force of the explosion has been expended the two puppet-valves are .raised by the revolution of the cam 65 on the motor-shaft, which allows the remainingproductstof combustion to be expelled from the engine through the side passages 48, leading from the annular distributing-chamber to the outer passages 44, which are in communication with the discharge-chamber 39 when the puppet-valve 49 is raised. It will thus be seen that at this stage of the operation the products of combustion are allowed free egress from the enthe contracted nozzles 33, which are of such small relative capacity that it would be impossible to-entirely expel the products of combustion in time to clean out the engine preparatory to the next explosion. While through the turbine-wheel, so that the full force of the explosion will be expended in driving the turbine-wheel; but after such force has been expended ade uate means of exit areprovided for entirely c eaning out the vthe valves are closed the only mode of exit is engine in a very short space of time. The

construction of the fan,'which is open on its outer face and has its blades set in edgewise I I 5 I .gine without the necessityfor passing through relation to the entering exploded charge, enables the fan to perform its function with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power, since practically none of the energy is lost by compression against the blades, which would be the case if a fan of different construction were employed having radially-extending blades set in diagonal relation to the entering exploded charge. The fan aids the foul exploded charge in seeking the easiest and most natural exit and serves to create a continual draft through the engine to clean out any sediment or soot that might otherwise be occasioned by the explosion of charges for a long period of time. The construction of the turbine-wheel is one which enables the expenditure of a maximum degree of energy on the blades and allows a free exit for the products of combustion after their total energy has been expended, thereby eliminating any back pressure on the blades, which would tend to decrease the efficiency of the turbinewheel.

The engine is one which may be run without the necessity for the expenditure of energy in the compression of the charges, so that practically the total energy of the charges will be expended .in operating the turbine-wheel, which will rotate more evenly and uniformly than if it were actuated at less frequent intervals by the excessive energy of compressed charges.

Although the device shows the employment of a single turbine-wheel, it is obvious that a series of turbine wheels could be mounted upon the same shaft without departing from the spirit of the invention. The employment of a governor of the character described insures a uniform and constant speed of revolution, since the valves will be actuated only after the speed of revolution has fallen below a predetermined point. Weighted governor-arms normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 3; but as the speed of revolution of the shaft 63 increases the arms will fly out and the actuating ends 67 of the bell-crank levers 68 will retract the cam away from the arm 71, which of course stops the rocking movement of the rock-shaft 73 and the consequent actuation of the valves.

- s The engine is strong and compact in its structure, and the parts are so constructed as.

to be easy to assemble, and the engine will berigid and symmetrical when assembled.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure I by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the combination of a shaft, a fan secured to the shaft and rotatable therewith, a fan-casing within which the fan is located, an explosionchamber in communication with the fan-casing, a turbine-casing in communication with i the fan-casing and consisting of an inner cylindrical chamber provided with a central opening at its discharge side and an annular distributing-chamber surrounding the inner chamber, nozzles between the two chambers, a turbine-wheel located within the cylindrical chamber and provided with an open outer face adapted to discharge the products of combustion through the central opening in the cylindrical chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the combination of a shaft, a fan secured to the shaft and rotatable therewith, a fan-casing within which the fan is located, an explosionchamber in communication with the fan-casing, a turbine-casing in communication with the fan-casing and consisting of an inner cylindrical chamber provided with a central opening at its discharge side and an annular distributing-chamber surrounding the inner chamber, nozzles between the two chambers, a turbine-wheel located within the cylindrical chamber and provided with an open outer face adapted to discharge the products of combustion through the central opening in the cylindrical chamber, a direct outlet leading from the central opening in the cylindrical chamber, and valve-controlled passages leading from the annular'chamber to the direct outlet, substantially as described.

3. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the combination of a shaft, a fan secured to the shaft, a fan-casing within which the fan is located, an explosion-chamber in communication with the fan-casing, a turbine-casing in communication with the fan-casing and consisting of an inner cylindrical chamber and an outer annular distributing-chamber, nozzles between the two chambers, a turbinewheel open at its outer face and located within the cylindrical inner chamber, passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, a discharge-chamber opening from the cylindrical turbine-chamber, a Valve between the discharge-chamber and the passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, and a valve. controlling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor to the explosion-chamber, substantially as described.

ITO

4. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the I combination of a shaft, a fan secured to the shaft and provided with blades set in parallel relation to the plane of the axial center of the fan, a fan-casing within which the fan is lofan-casing within which thefan is located and having walls'eccentrically curved with res ect to the fan and to-each other, said wa ls terminating in shoulders or abutments, an ex losion chamber in communication with tl ie fan-'casin' a turbine-casing in communication with t e fan-casing and consisting of an inner cylindrical chamber and an outer annular distributing-chamber, nozzles between the two chambers, a turbine-wheel open at its outer face and located within the cylindrical inner chamber, passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, a discharge-chamber openin from the cylindrical turbine-chamber, a va ve between the discharge-chamber. and the passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, and a valve controlling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor to the explosion-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the combination of a fan-casing'having' an outer end wall provided with an inlet-port, a pcripheral wall consistin of two sections eccentrically curved with respect to one another and terminating in oppositely-disposed shoulders or abutments, passages opening 7 into the fan-chamber adjacent to the shoulders 'or abutments, an annular distributing chamber to which the passages lead, .an inner cylindrical turbine-chamber within the annular chamber, diagonally-disposed nozzles leadin from the annular chamber to the inner turblne-chamber, an explosion-chamber in communication with the port in the outer side wall of the fan-casing, a discharge-o chamber having an open port in communication with the turbine-chamber, passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber to the discharge-chamber, a'valve for controlling the communication between said passages and the discharge-chamber, a shaft,

a fan on the shaft and located Within the fancasing, and a turbine-wheel on'the shaft and located within the turbine-chamber, a valve for controlling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor to the explosion-chamber, and means for actuating the valves, substantially as described.

7. Ina hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the combination of a fan-casing having an outer end wall provided with an inlet-port, a pcripheral wall consistin of two sections eccentrically curved with respect to one another and terminating in oppositely-disposed shoulders or abutments, passages opening" into the fan-chamber adjacent to the shoulseam ders or abutments, an annular -distributi-ngchamber to which the passages lead, an inner cylindrical turbine-chamber within the annular chamber, diagonally-disposed nozzles leading from the annular chamber to the inner turbine-chamber, an explosion-chamber in communicationwith the port in the outer side wall of the fan-casing, a discharge chamber having an open port in communication with the turbine chamber, passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber to the discharge-chamber, a valve for controlling the communication between said passages and the discharge-chamber, a shaft, a fan on the shaft and located within the fancasing, and a turbine-wheel on the shaft and located within the turbine-chamber, a valve for controlling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor to the ex losion-chamber, a cam actuated by the s aft, a rock-shaft provided with an arm actuated by the cam, and valveactuating arms on the rock-shaft for actuat ing the valves;-; substantially as described.

8. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, thecombination of a shaft, a fan secured to the shaft and provided with blades set in parallel relation to the axial center of the fan, a fan-casing within which the fan is located and having'walls eccentrically curved with res ect to the fan and to each other, said 'wa ls terminating in shoulders or abutments,

an explosion-chamber in communication with the fan-casin a turbine-casin in communication with t e fan-casing an consisting of an inner cylindrical chamber and an outer annular distributing-chamber, nozzles between the two chambers, a turbine-Wheel open at-its outer face and located within the cylindrical inner chamber, passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, a discharge-chamber openin from the cylindrical turblne-chamber, a va ve between the discharge-chamber and the passages leading from the annular distributing-chamber, and a valve controlling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor-to the explosion-chamber, an

intermediate shaft actuated by the powershaft, a motor-shaft actuated by the intermediate shaft, a. cam slidably mounted on the motor-shaft, a governor for automatically moving the cam after a predetermined speed of revolution has been attained, a rocks aft provided with an arm normally in engagementwith the cam, and valve-actuating arms on the rock-shaft for actuating the valves to control the admission to and discharge from the engine, substantially as described.

ICS

9. In a hydrocarbon turbine-engine, the I combination of a fan-casing having fiat end walls, and a peripheral wall consisting of two sections eccentrically curved with respect to one another and terminating inshoulders or abutments, a shaft projecting into the fancasing centrally of the abutments, a fan mounted on the shaft and consisting of a flat the turbine-chamber, and valves for controlback plate, and blades set edgewise in transling the admission of hydrocarbon vapor to verse relation thereto and open toward the the explosion-chamber, and the discharge of outer side of the fan-casing, an ex losionproducts of combustion from the engine, sub- 5 chamber in communication with t e fanstantially as described.

chamber and the exposed blades of the fan, a turbine-chamber, a turbine therein mounted I on the shaft carrying the fan,dpassages lead- Witnesses: ing from the fan-chamber a jacent to the SAMUEL W. BANNING, 1o abutments therein and communicating with WALKER BANNING.

JOHN ZANDER. 

